Chelle you are right. It is the Northwest Ohio Chapter that has montlhy
on line chat. In September they had a nephrologist answering questions
and in October they had a pharmacist. I, too, have missed both times.

At the Lupus Foundation annual meeting last July there was some
discussion about chat platforms. At this point, NW Ohio is the only
chapter I know doing it. I do chat on Yahoo and would be happy to talk
to you there, My chat name is gazorpf.

Peace,
Linda

Diane wrote:

Dear Diane,

You have had quite a time of it! And you are right, laughter is sooooo
important. My support group meets in a hospital across from a major
University. We get student visitors at almost every meeting. They are
stunned and baffled when they hear the amount of laughter in the group.


Scientists have proven some very interesting things about attitude and
the health of the immune system. Things that improve the funcition of
the immune system include laughter, doing good things for others,
contact with others, beauty around you, feeling useful, being in
nature. Amazing isn't it, the things that we might do to improve
others' lives help us too.

Find a copy of the classic book "Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by
the Patient" by journalist Norman Cousins. Long before there was
research on this, he recovered from ankylosising spondylitis (an
autoimmune disease where the spine fuses) partly through laughter.

Peace,
Linda

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Linda,
That's VERY different than my short experiece in a depression support group.
Each person in the group would tell about all of their periods of
depression during the week and provide the details. I would become really
depressed after each of those sessions. After about 2 months in that
group, I realized that the group sessions were not helping me. I stopped
attending those group meetings. I am glad that you are a member of a
support group that is helping you.
Jason
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's so fantastic to hear both you and Diane say that...That's exactly
what inspired my user name here on google groups...I wanted something
good and positive to think of when I come on here to chat and read
about Lupus because it's so much easier if I remember to smile and try
to keep things going in a positive direction.

I think it's a great idea about doing charitable things.  Maybe I could
get something started locally...like a support group that works to
benefit charities.  I love the idea of helping others also being a
source of helping yourself.  :-)  It's so nice to hear other people
saying that, though!

Thank you so much for you words of encouragement and caring.  I have been in
touch with my Rhuematologist.  He wants me to do a sleep study and have
testing for "organic brain involvement".  I am also be tested to see my if my
phorpuria cuteanea is back.  He is a great doctor and I trust his judgement
but sometimes I feel like he doesn't take me seriously because I haven't had
the difficulties that alot of people have.  I always thought that if you
didn't have major involvements early, you wouldn't have any major
involvements.  It's been 13 years, I always thought I wouldn't have to worry
about anything. As a matter of fact I questioned my doctor about whether I
actually had lupus.  But all of my labs point to it.
You are the second person to mention premenopausal to me.  My mother
suggested the same thing..I had a hysterectomy at 28, I only have one ovary
left.  I guess that is a possibility.